Beamforming and/or mimo rf front-end

ABSTRACT

An RF front-end includes a transmit adjust module, a PA module, an antenna coupling circuit, a LNA module, and a receive adjust module. The transmit adjust module adjusts coordinates of up-converted analog signals when in a first transmit mode and adjusts coordinates of a plurality of up-converted analog signals when in a second transmit mode to produce to produce multiple adjusted up-converted signals and a plurality of adjusted up-converted signals, respectively, which are subsequently amplified by the PA module. The antenna coupling circuit provides the outbound RF signals to at least some of a plurality of antennas depending on the transmit mode and provides multiple or a plurality of inbound RF signals at least some of the plurality of antennas to the LNA module based on a receive mode. The receive adjust module adjusts coordinates of the multiple or plurality of amplified inbound RF signals based on the receive mode.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present U.S. Utility patent application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. §120, as a continuation, to the following U.S. Utility patentapplication which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility patent applicationfor all purposes:

1. U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 13/190,614, entitled “Beamformingand/or MIMO RF Front-End,” filed Jul. 26, 2011, pending;

2. U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 13/190,614 is a continuation ofU.S. Utility application Ser. No. 12/480,209, filed Jun. 8, 2009entitled “Beamforming and/or MIMO RF Front-End,” now U.S. Pat. No.7,986,650;

3. U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 12/480,209 is a continuation ofU.S. Utility application Ser. No. 11/527,961, filed Sep. 27, 2006entitled “Beamforming and/or MIMO RF Front-End and ApplicationsThereof,” now U.S. Pat. No. 7,619,997.

All of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety for all purposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to wireless communication systems andmore particularly to radio frequency (RF) transmitters and/or receiversused in such wireless communication systems.

2. Description of Related Art

Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire linedcommunications between wireless and/or wire lined communication devices.Such communication systems range from national and/or internationalcellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-homewireless networks to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems. Eachtype of communication system is constructed, and hence operates, inaccordance with one or more communication standards. For instance,wireless communication systems may operate in accordance with one ormore standards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth,advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system formobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), localmulti-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-pointdistribution systems (MMDS), radio frequency identification (RFID),and/or variations thereof.

Depending on the type of wireless communication system, a wirelesscommunication device, such as a cellular telephone, two-way radio,personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptopcomputer, home entertainment equipment, RFID reader, RFID tag, et ceteracommunicates directly or indirectly with other wireless communicationdevices. For direct communications (also known as point-to-pointcommunications), the participating wireless communication devices tunetheir receivers and transmitters to the same channel or channels (e.g.,one of the plurality of radio frequency (RF) carriers of the wirelesscommunication system) and communicate over that channel(s). For indirectwireless communications, each wireless communication device communicatesdirectly with an associated base station (e.g., for cellular services)and/or an associated access point (e.g., for an in-home or in-buildingwireless network) via an assigned channel. To complete a communicationconnection between the wireless communication devices, the associatedbase stations and/or associated access points communicate with eachother directly, via a system controller, via the public switch telephonenetwork, via the Internet, and/or via some other wide area network.

For each wireless communication device to participate in wirelesscommunications, it includes a built-in radio transceiver (i.e., receiverand transmitter) or is coupled to an associated radio transceiver (e.g.,a station for in-home and/or in-building wireless communicationnetworks, RF modem, etc.). As is known, the receiver is coupled to theantenna and includes a low noise amplifier, one or more intermediatefrequency stages, a filtering stage, and a data recovery stage. The lownoise amplifier receives inbound RF signals via the antenna andamplifies then. The one or more intermediate frequency stages mix theamplified RF signals with one or more local oscillations to convert theamplified RF signal into baseband signals or intermediate frequency (IF)signals. The filtering stage filters the baseband signals or the IFsignals to attenuate unwanted out of band signals to produce filteredsignals. The data recovery stage recovers raw data from the filteredsignals in accordance with the particular wireless communicationstandard.

As is also known, the transmitter includes a data modulation stage, oneor more intermediate frequency stages, and a power amplifier. The datamodulation stage converts raw data into baseband signals in accordancewith a particular wireless communication standard. The one or moreintermediate frequency stages mix the baseband signals with one or morelocal oscillations to produce RF signals. The power amplifier amplifiesthe RF signals prior to transmission via an antenna.

In many systems, the transmitter will include one antenna fortransmitting the RF signals, which are received by a single antenna, ormultiple antennas, of a receiver. When the receiver includes two or moreantennas, the receiver will select one of them to receive the incomingRF signals. In this instance, the wireless communication between thetransmitter and receiver is a single-output-single-input (SISO)communication, even if the receiver includes multiple antennas that areused as diversity antennas (i.e., selecting one of them to receive theincoming RF signals). For SISO wireless communications, a transceiverincludes one transmitter and one receiver. Currently, most wirelesslocal area networks (WLAN) that are IEEE 802.11, 802.11a, 802,11b, or802.11g compliant or RFID standard compliant employ SISO wirelesscommunications.

Other types of wireless communications includesingle-input-multiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input-single-output(MISO), and multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO). In a SIMO wirelesscommunication, a single transmitter processes data into radio frequencysignals that are transmitted to a receiver. The receiver includes two ormore antennas and two or more receiver paths. Each of the antennasreceives the RF signals and provides them to a corresponding receiverpath (e.g., LNA, down conversion module, filters, and ADCs). Each of thereceiver paths processes the received RF signals to produce digitalsignals, which are combined and then processed to recapture thetransmitted data.

For a multiple-input-single-output (MISO) wireless communication, thetransmitter includes two or more transmission paths (e.g., digital toanalog converter, filters, up-conversion module, and a power amplifier)that each converts a corresponding portion of baseband signals into RFsignals, which are transmitted via corresponding antennas to a receiver.The receiver includes a single receiver path that receives the multipleRF signals from the transmitter. In this instance, the receiver usesbeamforming to combine the multiple RF signals into one signal forprocessing.

For a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication, thetransmitter and receiver each include multiple paths. In such acommunication, the transmitter parallel processes data using a spatialand time encoding function to produce two or more streams of data. Thetransmitter includes multiple transmission paths to convert each streamof data into multiple RF signals. The receiver receives the multiple RFsignals via multiple receiver paths that recapture the streams of datautilizing a spatial and time decoding function. The recaptured streamsof data are combined and subsequently processed to recover the originaldata. As such, MIMO wireless communication offer the opportunity totransceive data at higher data rates that single input and/or singleoutput wireless communications. However, when the signal strength of aMIMO wireless communication is weak, the data rate is reduced therebynegating the advantage of a MIMO system.

To provide a directional wireless communication (i.e., increase thesignal strength by focusing the energy of a transmitted RF signal in aparticular direction), transceivers may incorporate beamforming. Ingeneral, beamforming is a baseband processing technique to create afocused antenna beam by shifting a signal in time or in phase to providegain of the signal in a desired direction and to attenuate the signal inother directions. Prior art papers (1) Digital beamforming basics(antennas) by Steyskal, Hans, Journal of Electronic Defense, Jul. 1,1996; (2) Utilizing Digital Downconverters for Efficient DigitalBeamforming, by Clint Schreiner, Red River Engineering, no publicationdate; and (3) Interpolation Based Transmit Beamforming for MIMO-OFMDwith Partial Feedback, by Jihoon Choi and Robert W. Heath, University ofTexas, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, WirelessNetworking and Communications Group, Sep. 13, 2003 discuss beamformingconcepts.

In a known beamforming transmitter embodiment, the beamformingtransmitter includes the data modulation stage, one or more intermediatefrequency (IF) stages, the power amplifier, and a plurality of phasemodules. The data modulation stage, the one or more IF stages and thepower amplifier operate as discussed above to produce an amplifiedoutbound RF signal. The plurality of phase modules adjust the phase ofthe amplified outbound RF signal in accordance with a beamforming matrixto produce a plurality of signals that are subsequently transmitted by aset of antennas.

While such a beamforming transmitter provides a functioning transmitter,it requires multiple high frequency and accurate phase modules. Sincethe phase modules are adjusting the same signal, the resulting magnitudeof the phase adjusted signals is the same. Note that gain adjust modulesmay be added in series with the phase modules, but further adds to thecomplexity and component count of the beamforming transmitter.

Therefore, a need exists for a radio frequency transceiver thatincorporates the benefits of MIMO and/or beamforming, but does so insuch a way as to substantially overcome one or more of the abovementioned limitations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of operationthat are further described in the following Brief Description of theDrawings, the Detailed Description of the Invention, and the claims.Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of the invention madewith reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication systemin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication devicein accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an RFtransceiver in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a transmitprocessing module in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a receiveprocessing module in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an RF front-endin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a transmitadjust module and a power amplifier module in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a transmitadjust module and a power amplifier module in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an RFfront-end in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a transmitadjust module and a power amplifier module in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a transmitadjust module and a power amplifier module in accordance with thepresent invention; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a transmitadjust module and a power amplifier module in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a communication system10 that includes a plurality of base stations and/or access points 12,16, a plurality of wireless communication devices 18-32 and a networkhardware component 34. Note that the network hardware 34, which may be arouter, switch, bridge, modem, system controller, et cetera provides awide area network connection 42 for the communication system 10. Furthernote that the wireless communication devices 18-32 may be laptop hostcomputers 18 and 26, personal digital assistant hosts 20 and 30,personal computer hosts 24 and 32 and/or cellular telephone hosts 22 and28. The details of the wireless communication devices will be describedin greater detail with reference to one or more of FIGS. 2-13.

Wireless communication devices 22, 23, and 24 are located within anindependent basic service set (IBSS) area and communicate directly(i.e., point to point). In this configuration, these devices 22, 23, and24 may only communicate with each other. To communicate with otherwireless communication devices within the system 10 or to communicateoutside of the system 10, the devices 22, 23, and/or 24 need toaffiliate with one of the base stations or access points 12 or 16.

The base stations or access points 12, 16 are located within basicservice set (BSS) areas 11 and 13, respectively, and are operablycoupled to the network hardware 34 via local area network connections36, 38. Such a connection provides the base station or access point 1216 with connectivity to other devices within the system 10 and providesconnectivity to other networks via the WAN connection 42. To communicatewith the wireless communication devices within its BSS 11 or 13, each ofthe base stations or access points 12-16 has an associated antenna orantenna array. For instance, base station or access point 12 wirelesslycommunicates with wireless communication devices 18 and 20 while basestation or access point 16 wirelessly communicates with wirelesscommunication devices 26-32. Typically, the wireless communicationdevices register with a particular base station or access point 12, 16to receive services from the communication system 10.

Typically, base stations are used for cellular telephone systems andlike-type systems, while access points are used for in-home orin-building wireless networks (e.g., IEEE 802.11 and versions thereof,Bluetooth, and/or any other type of radio frequency based networkprotocol). Regardless of the particular type of communication system,each wireless communication device includes a built-in radio and/or iscoupled to a radio.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a wirelesscommunication device that includes the host device 18-32 and anassociated radio 60. For cellular telephone hosts, RFID reader hosts,walkie-talkie hosts, the radio 60 is a built-in component. For personaldigital assistants hosts, laptop hosts, and/or personal computer hosts,the radio 60 may be built-in or an externally coupled component.

As illustrated, the host device 18-32 includes a processing module 50,memory 52, a radio interface 54, an input interface 58, and an outputinterface 56. The processing module 50 and memory 52 execute thecorresponding instructions that are typically done by the host device.For example, for a cellular telephone host device, the processing module50 performs the corresponding communication functions in accordance witha particular cellular telephone standard.

The radio interface 54 allows data to be received from and sent to theradio 60. For data received from the radio 60 (e.g., inbound data), theradio interface 54 provides the data to the processing module 50 forfurther processing and/or routing to the output interface 56. The outputinterface 56 provides connectivity to an output display device such as adisplay, monitor, speakers, et cetera such that the received data may bedisplayed. The radio interface 54 also provides data from the processingmodule 50 to the radio 60. The processing module 50 may receive theoutbound data from an input device such as a keyboard, keypad,microphone, et cetera via the input interface 58 or generate the dataitself. For data received via the input interface 58, the processingmodule 50 may perform a corresponding host function on the data and/orroute it to the radio 60 via the radio interface 54.

The radio 60 includes a host interface 62, a transmit processing module64, a digital to analog conversion (DAC) module 66, an up-conversionmodule 68, an RF front-end 70 coupled to a plurality of antennas 72, adown-conversion module 76, an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) module78, and a receive processing module 80. The receive and transmitprocessing modules 80 and 64 may be implemented using a sharedprocessing device, individual processing devices, or a plurality ofprocessing devices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor,micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, centralprocessing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logicdevice, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/ordigital) based on operational instructions. In addition, the processingmodule 64 and 80 may include memory, which may be a single memory deviceor a plurality of memory devices. Such a memory device may be aread-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatilememory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, and/or any devicethat stores digital information. Note that when the processing module 64and/or 80 implements one or more of its functions via a state machine,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memorystoring the corresponding operational instructions is embedded with thecircuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry.

In operation, the radio 60 receives outbound data 82 from the hostdevice via the host interface 62. The host interface 62 routes theoutbound data 82 to the transmit processing module 64. In a firsttransmit mode (e.g., RF beamform a single outbound RF signal), thetransmit processing module 64 convert outbound data 82 into a stream ofoutbound symbols 84 when the RF transceiver. The conversion, which maybe in accordance with a particular wireless communication standard(e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, RFID, CDMA, GSM, et cetera), includes oneor more of scrambling, encoding, constellation mapping, modulation,and/or digital baseband to IF conversion. Note the stream of outboundsymbols 84 may be at baseband (e.g., have a zero intermediate frequency(IF)) or at a low IF of one hundred kilohertz to a few megahertz.

In a second transmit mode (e.g., MIMO), the transmit processing module64 converts the outbound data 82 into a plurality of block encodedstreams of outbound symbols 86. In one embodiment, the transmitprocessing module 64 converts the outbound data 82 into the plurality ofblock encoded streams of outbound symbols 86 by encoding the outbounddata 82 into outbound encoded data. The transmit processing module 64then interleaves the outbound encoded data into a plurality of streamsof interleaved outbound data. The transmit processing module 64 thenmaps each of the plurality of streams of interleaved outbound data intoa plurality of outbound symbol streams. The transmit processing module64 then block encodes (e.g., space time block encoding and/or frequencytime block encoding) each of the plurality of outbound symbol streams inspace or in frequency to produce a plurality of outbound blocked encodedsymbol streams. The transmit processing module 64 then transforms domainof each of the plurality of outbound block encoded symbol streams fromthe frequency domain to the time domain to produce the plurality ofblock encoded streams of outbound symbols 86.

The digital to analog conversion (DAC) module 66, which includes one ormore digital to analog converters, converts the stream of outboundsymbols into analog signals when the RF transceiver is in the firsttransmit mode (e.g., RF beamforming). Note that if the stream ofoutbound symbols includes an in-phase component and a quadraturecomponent, the DAC module 66 uses two digital to analog converters(i.e., one for the in-phase component and a second for the quadraturecomponent) to produce the analog signals. When the RF transceiver is inthe second transmit mode (e.g., MIMO), the DAC module 66 converts theplurality of block encoded streams of outbound symbols into a pluralityof analog signals. Note that if each block encoded stream of outboundsymbols includes an in-phase component and a quadrature component, theDAC module 66 uses two digital to analog converters (i.e., one for thein-phase component and a second for the quadrature component) for eachblock encoded stream. Thus, if there are four block encoded streams ofoutbound symbols 86, then the DAC module includes eight digital toanalog converters.

The up-conversion module 68 converts the analog signals intoup-converted signals 88 when the RF transceiver is in the first transmitmode and converts the plurality of analog signals into a plurality ofup-converted signals 90 when the RF transceiver is in the secondtransmit mode. In one embodiment, the up-conversion module 68 convertsthe analog signals into up-converted signals 88 by mixing the analogsignals with a local oscillation provided by the local oscillation (LO)module 74. This may be done directly (e.g., the local oscillation isapproximately equal to the carrier frequency of the outbound RF signals)or in a superheterodyne manner using two or more intermediate frequencystages. In an embodiment, the up-conversion module 68 converts theplurality of analog signals into the plurality of up-converted signals90 by mixing each of the plurality of analog signals with the localoscillation provided by the local oscillation (LO) module 74. This maybe done directly (e.g., the local oscillation is approximately equal tothe carrier frequency of the outbound RF signals) or in asuperheterodyne manner using two or more intermediate frequency stages.

The RF front-end 70, which will be described in greater detail withreference to one or more of FIGS. 7-13, adjust coordinates (e.g., one ormore of phase, frequency, and amplitude) of the up-converted signals 88when the RF transceiver is in the first transmit mode to producemultiple adjusted up-converted signals. The RF front-end 70 thenamplifies the multiple adjusted up-converted signals to produce multipleoutbound RF signals 92. The RF front-end 70 provides the multipleoutbound RF signals 92 to at least some of a plurality of antennas 72.In one embodiment, the plurality of antennas 72 includes a set oftransmit antennas and a set of receive antennas such that the RFtransceiver may operate in a full duplex mode with the transmit pathusing one frequency band and the receive path using another frequencyband. Thus, in this embodiment, the at least some of the pluralityantennas 72 corresponds to the set of transmit antennas.

In another embodiment, the RF transceiver operates in a half duplex modewhere the transmit and receive paths share the plurality of antennas 72.In this instance, the at least some of the plurality antennas 72 mayinclude all of the antennas 72 or some of the antennas 72 depending onthe number of antennas and the desired beamforming. For example, ifthere are four antennas in the plurality of antennas, each with adifferent polarization, then four outbound RF signals 92 may begenerated, thus using all four antennas. Alternatively, only twooutbound RF signals 92 may be generated, thus only two of the fourantennas would be used.

When the RF transceiver is in the second transmit mode, the RF front-end70 adjusts coordinates (e.g., one or more of phase, frequency, andamplitude) of the plurality of up-converted analog signals to produce aplurality of adjusted up-converted signals. The RF front-end 70 thenamplifies the plurality of adjusted up-converted signals to produce aplurality of outbound RF signals 94. The RF front-end 70 then providesthe plurality of outbound RF signals 94 to the at least some of theplurality of antennas 72.

When the RF transceiver is in a first receive mode (e.g., RFbeamforming), the RF front-end receives multiple inbound RF signals 96from another at least some of the plurality of antennas 72. Note thatthe another at least some of the plurality of antennas 72 may correspondto a set of receive antennas of the plurality of antennas 72 such thatthe RF transceiver may operate in a full duplex mode with the transmitpath using one frequency band and the receive path using anotherfrequency band.

The RF front-end 70 then amplifies the multiple inbound RF signals 96 toproduce multiple amplified inbound RF signals. The RF front-end 70 thenadjusts coordinates (e.g., one or more of phase, frequency, andamplitude) of the multiple amplified inbound RF signals 96 to produceadjusted inbound RF signals.

When the RF transceiver is in a second receive mode (e.g., MIMO), the RFfront-end receives a plurality of inbound RF signals 98 from the anotherat least some of the plurality of antennas 72. The RF front-end thenamplifies the plurality of inbound RF signals 98 to produce a pluralityof amplified inbound RF signals. The RF front-end 70 then adjustscoordinates (e.g., one or more of phase, frequency, and amplitude) ofthe plurality of amplified inbound RF signals to produce a plurality ofadjusted inbound RF signals.

The down-conversion module 78 converts the adjusted inbound RF signals96 into analog inbound signals 100 when the RF transceiver is in thefirst receive mode (e.g., RF beamforming) and converts the plurality ofadjusted inbound RF signals 98 into a plurality of analog inboundsignals 102 when the RF transceiver is in the second receive mode (e.g.,MIMO). In one embodiment, the down-conversion module 76 converts theadjusted inbound RF signals 96 into analog inbound signals 100 by mixingthe adjusted inbound RF signals 96 with a local oscillation provided bythe local oscillation (LO) module 74. This may be done directly (e.g.,the local oscillation is approximately equal to the carrier frequency ofthe inbound RF signals) or in a superheterodyne manner using two or moreintermediate frequency stages. In an embodiment, the down-conversionmodule 76 converts the plurality of adjusted inbound RF signals 98 intoa plurality of analog inbound signals 102 by mixing each of theplurality of adjusted inbound RF signals 98 with the local oscillationprovided by the local oscillation (LO) module 74. This may be donedirectly (e.g., the local oscillation is approximately equal to thecarrier frequency of the outbound RF signals) or in a superheterodynemanner using two or more intermediate frequency stages.

The analog to digital conversion (ADC) module 78 converts the analoginbound signals 100 into a stream of inbound symbols when the RFtransceiver is in the first receive mode (e.g., RF beamforming) andconvert the plurality of analog inbound signals 102 into a plurality ofstreams of inbound block encoded symbols when the RF transceiver is inthe second receive mode (e.g., MIMO). Note that if the analog inboundsignals 100 includes an in-phase component and a quadrature component,the ADC module 78 uses two analog to digital converters (i.e., one forthe in-phase component and a second for the quadrature component) toproduce the stream of inbound symbols. Further note that if each of theplurality of analog inbound signals 102 includes an in-phase componentand a quadrature component, the ADC module 78 uses two analog to digitalconverters (i.e., one for the in-phase component and a second for thequadrature component) for each analog inbound signals. Thus, if thereare four analog inbound signals 102, then the ADC module 78 wouldinclude eight analog to digital converters.

The receive processing module 80 convert the stream of inbound symbolsinto inbound data 104 when the RF transceiver is in the first receivemode (e.g., RF beamforming) and converts the plurality of streams ofinbound block encoded symbols into the inbound data 104 when the RFtransceiver is in the second receive mode (e.g., MIMO). In oneembodiment, the conversion, which may be in accordance with a particularwireless communication standard (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, RFID,CDMA, GSM, et cetera), includes one or more of digital intermediatefrequency to baseband conversion, demodulation, constellation demapping,decoding, and/or descrambling. Note the stream of inbound symbols may beat baseband (e.g., have a zero intermediate frequency (IF)) or at a lowIF of one hundred kilohertz to a few megahertz.

In another embodiment, the conversion may include a space/time and/orfrequency/time decoding to produce M-output paths from P-inputs from thereceiver. The M-output paths are converted from a time domain to afrequency domain to produce frequency domain symbols. The receiveprocessing module 80 then demaps the frequency domain symbols intodemapped symbol streams. The demapped symbol streams are combined into asingle path and then deinterleaved to produce deinterleaved data. Thereceive processing module 80 then decodes the deinterleaved data toproduce the inbound data 104.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver in a third transmit and receive mode. In thisembodiment, the transmit baseband processing module 64 converts theoutbound data 64 into a plurality of beamformed streams of outboundsymbols 110 when the RF transceiver is in a third transmit mode. In thisembodiment, the transmit processing module 64 converts the outbound data82 into the plurality of beamformed streams of outbound symbols 110 byencoding the outbound data 82 into outbound encoded data. The transmitprocessing module 64 then interleaves the outbound encoded data into aplurality of streams of interleaved outbound data. The transmitprocessing module 64 then maps each of the plurality of streams ofinterleaved outbound data into a plurality of outbound symbol streams.The transmit processing module 64 then multiples the plurality ofoutbound symbol streams with a beamforming matrix to produce a pluralityof outbound beamformed encoded symbol streams. The transmit processingmodule 64 then transforms domain of each of the plurality of outboundbeamformed encoded symbol streams from the frequency domain to the timedomain to produce the plurality of beamformed streams of outboundsymbols 110.

The digital to analog conversion module 66 converts the plurality ofbeamformed streams of outbound symbols 110 into a second plurality ofanalog signals. The up-conversion module 68 converts the secondplurality of analog signals into a second plurality of up-convertedsignals 112.

The RF front end 70 adjusts coordinates of the second plurality ofup-converted analog signals 112 to produce a second plurality ofadjusted up-converted signals, which are both baseband and RFbeamformed. The RF front-end 70 then amplifies the second plurality ofadjusted up-converted signals to produce a second plurality of outboundRF signals 114. The RF front-end 70 then provides the second pluralityof outbound RF signals 114 to the at least some of the plurality ofantennas 72.

When the RF transceiver is in the third receive mode, the RF front-endreceives a second plurality of inbound RF signals 116 from the anotherat least some of the plurality of antennas. The RF front-end 70 thenamplifies the second plurality of inbound RF signals 116 to produce asecond plurality of amplified inbound RF signals. The RF front-end 70then adjusts coordinates of the second plurality of amplified inbound RFsignals 116 to produce a second plurality of adjusted inbound RFsignals, which now are only baseband beamformed.

The down-conversion module 76 converts the second plurality of adjustedinbound RF signals into a second plurality of analog inbound signals118. The analog to digital conversion module 78 convert the secondplurality of analog inbound signals 118 into a plurality of streams ofinbound beamformed symbols. The receive baseband processing module 80converts the plurality of streams of inbound beamformed symbols into theinbound data 80 using an inverse process of the transmit processingmodule 64.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an RFtransceiver in a fourth transmit and receive mode (e.g., MIMO withbaseband and RF beamforming). In this embodiment, the transmit basebandprocessing module 64 converts the outbound data 82 into a plurality ofbeamformed and block encoded streams of outbound symbols 120, which maybe done by a combination of the processing described with reference toFIGS. 2 and 3.

The digital to analog conversion module 66 converts the plurality ofbeamformed and block encoded streams of outbound symbols 120 into athird plurality of analog signals. The up-conversion module 68 convertsthe third plurality of analog signals into a third plurality ofup-converted signals 122.

The RF front-end 70 adjusts coordinates of the third plurality ofup-converted analog signals 122 to produce a third plurality of adjustedup-converted signals. The RF front-end 70 amplifies the third pluralityof adjusted up-converted signals to produce a third plurality ofoutbound RF signals 124. The RF front-end 70 then provides the thirdplurality of outbound RF signals 124 to the at least some of theplurality of antennas 72.

When the RF transceiver is in the fourth receive mode, the RF front-end70 receives a third plurality of inbound RF signals 126 from the anotherat least some of the plurality of antennas 72. The RF front-end 70 thenamplifies the third plurality of inbound RF signals 126 to produce athird plurality of amplified inbound RF signals. The RF front-end 70then adjusts coordinates of the third plurality of amplified inbound RFsignals to produce a third plurality of adjusted inbound RF signals.

The down-conversion module 76 converts the third plurality of adjustedinbound RF signals into a third plurality of analog inbound signals 126.The analog to digital conversion module 78 converts the third pluralityof analog inbound signals 128 into a plurality of streams of inboundbeamformed and block encoded symbols. The receive baseband processingmodule 80 converts the plurality of streams of inbound beamformed andblock encoded symbols into the inbound data 104.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a transmitprocessing module 64 that includes functional blocks of an encodingmodule 130, a puncture module 132, a switch, a plurality of interleavingmodules 134, 136, a plurality of constellation mapping modules 138-140,a space-time and/or space-frequency block encoding module 144, abeamforming module 142, a plurality of inverse fast Fourier transform(IFFT) modules 146-148, and a plurality of multiplexers. As one ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the transmit processingmodule 64 may include two or more of each of the interleaving modules134-136, the constellation mapping modules 138-140, and the IFFT modules146-148 depending on the number of transmit paths to be generated. Inaddition, one of ordinary skill in art will appreciate that the encodingmodule 130, puncture module 132, the interleaving modules 134-136, theconstellation mapping modules 138-140, and the IFFT modules 146-148 mayfunction in accordance with one or more wireless communication standardsincluding, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11a, b, g, n.

In one embodiment, the encoding module 130 is coupled to convertoutbound data 82 into encoded data in accordance with one or morewireless communication standards. The puncture module 132 punctures theencoded data to produce punctured encoded data. The plurality ofinterleaving modules 134-136 is coupled to interleave the puncturedencoded data into a plurality of interleaved streams of data. Theplurality of constellation mapping modules 138-140 is coupled to map theplurality of interleaved streams of data into a plurality of streams ofdata symbols, wherein each data symbol of the stream of data symbolsincludes one or more complex signal. The plurality of streams of datasymbols may now be space-time of frequency block encoded and/or basebandbeamformed. For example, if the plurality of streams of data symbols isto be both block encoded and baseband beamformed, the streams may befirst block encoded and then beamformed by gating the multiplexers inthe appropriate manner. As another example, if the streams are to beonly block encoded (e.g., the RF transceiver is in the MIMO mode), themultiplexers provide the streams to and from the encoding module 144.

If the space-time and/or space-frequency block encoding module 144 isused, it encodes a plurality of complex signals (e.g., at least twocomplex signals) into a plurality of space-time and/or space-frequencyblock encoded signals. The plurality of IFFT modules 146-148 convertsthe plurality of space-time and/or space-frequency block encoded signalsinto a plurality of outbound symbol streams 86, 110, and/or 120. Notethat if only RF beamforming is to be used, only one path through thetransmit processing module is enabled to produce the stream of outboundsymbols 84.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the processingmodule 80 that includes functional blocks of a plurality of fast Fouriertransform (FFT) modules 160-162, a space-time and/or space-frequencyblock decoding module 166, an inverse beamforming module 164,multiplexers, a plurality of constellation demapping modules 168-170, aplurality of deinterleaving modules 172-174, a switch, a depuncturemodule 176, and a decoding module 178 for converting a plurality ofinbound symbol streams 102, 118, or 128 into inbound data 104. As one ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the receive processing module80 may include two or more of each of the deinterleaving modules172-174, the constellation demapping modules 168-170, and the FFTmodules 160-162. In addition, one of ordinary skill in art willappreciate that the decoding module 178, the depuncture module 176, thedeinterleaving modules 172-174, the constellation decoding modules168-170, and the FFT modules 160-162 may be function in accordance withone or more wireless communication standards including, but not limitedto, IEEE 802.11a, b, g, n.

In one embodiment, the plurality of FFT modules 160-162 converts aplurality of inbound symbol streams 102, 118, or 128 into a plurality ofstreams of space-time and/or space-frequency block encoded symbolsand/or beamformed encoded symbols. If the symbols are block encoded, thespace-time and/or space-frequency block decoding module 166 decodes theplurality of streams of space-time and/or space-frequency block encodedsymbols into a plurality of streams of data symbols. If the symbols arealso beamformed, or in the alternative, are only beamformed, the inversebeamforming module 164 generates the plurality of streams of datasymbols.

The plurality of constellation demapping modules 168-170 demaps theplurality of streams of data symbols into a plurality of interleavedstreams of data. The plurality of deinterleaving modules 172-174deinterleaves the plurality of interleaved streams of data into encodeddata. The decoding module 178 converts the encoded data into inbounddata 104.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the RF front-end70 that includes a transmit adjust module 180, a power amplifier module182, an antenna coupling circuit 184, a low noise amplifier module 186,and a receive adjust module 188. As shown, the RF front-end 70 iscoupled to the plurality of antennas 72. The plurality of antennas 72may include two or more antennas having the same or differentpolarization and/or may include a diversity structure.

The transmit adjust module 180, which will be described in greaterdetail with reference to one or more of FIGS. 8-13, adjusts coordinatesof the up-converted analog signals 88 when the RF transceiver is in thefirst transmit mode to produce multiple adjusted up-converted signals190. The power amplifier module 182, which may include one or more poweramplifiers, pre-amplifiers, RF bandpass filters, and gain control,amplifies the multiple adjusted up-converted signals 190 when the RFtransceiver is in the first transmit mode to produce multiple outboundRF signals 92.

The antenna coupling circuit 184 provides the multiple outbound RFsignals 92 to at least some of a plurality of antennas 72 when the RFtransceiver is in the first transmit mode. The antenna coupling circuit184 also provides the multiple inbound RF signals 96 from another atleast some of the plurality of antennas 72 to the low noise amplifiermodule 186 when the RF transceiver is in a first receive mode.

The low noise amplifier module 186, which may include one or moreamplifiers, amplifies the multiple inbound RF signals 96 to producemultiple amplified inbound RF signals when the RF transceiver is in thefirst receive mode. The receive adjust module 188 adjusts coordinates ofthe multiple amplified inbound RF signals when the RF transceiver is inthe first receive mode to produce adjusted inbound RF signals 192. Inone embodiment, the transmit adjust module, the power amplifier module,the antenna coupling circuit, the low noise amplifier module, and thereceive adjust module located on a common die of an integrated circuit.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the transmitadjust module 180 and the power amplifier module 182 when the RFtransmitter is in the first transmit mode (e.g., RF beamforming). Thetransmit adjust module 180 includes first and second adjust modules 181and 183 and the power amplifier module 182 includes first and secondpower amplifiers. In one embodiment, the transmit adjust module 180receives the up-converted signals 88, which may be a sinusoidal signalor complex signal having an in-phase component and a quadraturecomponent. For this example, the up-converted signals 88 are a cosinewaveform, which is illustrated as a vector having coordinates of anamplitude (e.g., the length of the arrow) and a phase shift of 90°. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the coordinates of theoutbound RF signal 90 may be polar coordinates or Cartesian coordinates.

The transmit adjust module 180 adjusts the phase and/or amplitude of theup-converted signals 88, via the first and second adjust modules 181 and183 based on a coordinate adjust factor 194. The coordinate adjustfactor 194 is determined based on the number of antennas, thepolarization of the antennas, and/or the desired transmission vector. Inthis example, there are two antennas of the plurality of antennas 72,each having the same polarization. The desired transmission vector hasan angle of approximately 60°, thus the coordinate adjust factor 194indicates that two adjusted up-converted signals 190 are to be generatedfrom the up-converted signal 88. The first adjust module 181 generates a1^(st) of the two adjusted up-converted signals 190 with a zero phaseadjust and a zero amplitude adjustment of the up-converted signals 88.As such, the 1^(st) of the two adjusted up-converted signals 190 is areplica of the up-converted signals 88.

The second adjust module 183 generates a 2^(nd) of the two adjustedup-converted signals 190 with a −60° phase adjust and a zero amplitudeadjustment of the up-converted signals 88. As such, the 2^(nd) of thetwo adjusted up-converted signals 190 is shown as a vector having thesame amplitude as the up-converted signals 88 with a −60° degree phaseshift the up-converted signals 88. As one of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate, the TX adjust module 180 may produce more than two RFsignal components depending on the desired beamformed signal and thetransmit circuitry available.

The power amplifiers of the power amplifier module 182 amplify the twoadjusted up-converted signals 190 to produce amplified RF signalcomponents. The power amplifiers may have their gains adjusted inaccordance with the coordinate adjust factor 194 to further adjust thecorresponding RF signal component. In this example, the gains of thepower amplifiers is the same, thus with respect to each other, themagnitudes of the amplified RF signal components is the same.

The antennas 72 transmit the corresponding amplified RF signalcomponents 190-1 and 190-2 to produce a beamformed RF signal 196. Thebeamforming of the beamformed RF signal 196 is done in air based on avector summation of the amplified RF signal components 190-1 and 190-2.As shown, the beamformed RF signal 196 has an amplitude and a phase thatcorresponds to the vector summation of RF signal components 190-1 and190-2. Note that by adjusting the phase of the RF signal components190-1 and 190-2 and/or the amplitudes of the RF signal components 190-1and 190-2, the beamformed RF signal 196 may be generated having adesired magnitude with a desired phase shift. As such, regardless of thedirection of the targeted receiver with respect to the transmitter, thebeamformed RF signal 196 may be produced to provide a maximum amount ofenergy transmitted in the direction of the receiver.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the transmitadjust module 180 and the power amplifier module 182 when the RFtransmitter is in the first transmit mode (e.g., RF beamforming). Inthis embodiment, the transmit adjust module 180 adjusts the phase and/oramplitude of the up-converted signals 88, via the first and secondadjust modules 181 and 183, based on a coordinate adjust factor 194. Thecoordinate adjust factor 194 is determined based on the number ofantennas, the polarization of the antennas, and/or the desiredtransmission vector. In this example, there are two antennas of theplurality of antennas 72, having different polarizations. The desiredtransmission vector has an angle of approximately 60°, thus thecoordinate adjust factor 194 indicates that two adjusted up-convertedsignals 190 are to be generated from the up-converted signal 88. Thefirst adjust module 181 generates a 1^(st) of the two adjustedup-converted signals 190 with a zero phase adjust and a zero amplitudeadjustment of the up-converted signals 88. As such, the 1^(st) of thetwo adjusted up-converted signals 190 is a replica of the up-convertedsignals 88.

The second adjust module 183 generates a 2^(nd) of the two adjustedup-converted signals 190 with a +30° phase adjust and a zero amplitudeadjustment of the up-converted signals 88. As such, the 2^(nd) of thetwo adjusted up-converted signals 190 is shown as a vector having thesame amplitude as the up-converted signals 88 with a +30° degree phaseshift the up-converted signals 88. The power amplifiers of the poweramplifier module 182 amplify the two adjusted up-converted signals 190to produce amplified RF signal components. The power amplifiers may havetheir gains adjusted in accordance with the coordinate adjust factor 194to further adjust the corresponding RF signal component. In thisexample, the gains of the power amplifiers is the same, thus withrespect to each other, the magnitudes of the amplified RF signalcomponents is the same.

The antennas 72 transmit the corresponding amplified RF signalcomponents 190-1 and 190-2 to produce a beamformed RF signal 196. Thebeamforming of the beamformed RF signal 196 is done in air based on avector summation of the amplified RF signal components 190-1 and 190-2.As shown, when the 2^(nd) RF signal component 190-2 is transmitted viaan antenna having an orthogonal polarization to the other antenna, thein-air representation of the 2^(nd) RF signal component is rotated by90° with respect to the transmission of the other antenna.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the RFfront-end 70 that includes the transmit adjust module 180, the poweramplifier module 182, the antenna coupling circuit 184, the low noiseamplifier module 186, and the receive adjust module 188. As shown, theRF front-end 70 is coupled to the plurality of antennas 72, whichincludes four antennas in this example, each having a differentpolarization.

The transmit adjust module 180 adjusts coordinates of the plurality ofup-converted analog signals 90 when the RF transceiver is in the secondtransmit mode to produce a plurality of adjusted up-converted signals.The power amplifier module 182, which may include one or more poweramplifiers, pre-amplifiers, RF bandpass filters, and gain control,amplifies the plurality of adjusted up-converted signals 200 when the RFtransceiver is in the second transmit mode to produce a plurality ofoutbound RF signals 94.

The antenna coupling circuit 184 provides the plurality of outbound RFsignals to the at least some of the plurality of antennas 72 when the RFtransceiver is in the second transmit mode. The antenna coupling circuit184 also provides the plurality of inbound RF signals 98 from another atleast some of the plurality of antennas 72 to the low noise amplifiermodule 186 when the RF transceiver is in a second receive mode.

The low noise amplifier module 186, which may include one or moreamplifiers, amplifies the plurality of inbound RF signals 98 to producea plurality of amplified inbound RF signals when the RF transceiver isin the second receive mode. The receive adjust module 188 adjustscoordinates of the plurality of amplified inbound RF signals when the RFtransceiver is in the second receive mode to produce a plurality ofadjusted inbound RF signals 192. In one embodiment, the transmit adjustmodule, the power amplifier module, the antenna coupling circuit, thelow noise amplifier module, and the receive adjust module located on acommon die of an integrated circuit.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of thetransmit adjust module 180 and the power amplifier module 182 when theRF transceiver is in a second mode (e.g., MIMO). As shown, the antennas72 have orthogonal polarizations. As such, to provide the desired MIMOtransmission, one or both of the signals 90A and 90B need to beadjusted.

In this example, the transmit adjust module 180 receives twoup-converted signals 90A and 90B that may of the same magnitude andphase, but are separated in space-time or frequency-time. The 1^(st)adjust module 181 does not adjust the phase and/or amplitude of the1^(st) up-converted signal 90A in accordance with the coordinate adjustfactor 204. The 2^(nd) adjust module 183 adjusts the phase by +90° ofthe 2^(nd) up-converted signal 90B in accordance with the coordinateadjust factor 204. The adjusted up-converted signals 200-1 and 200-2 areamplified by the power amplifiers of the power amplifier module 182 andprovided to the antennas 72.

The antennas 72 transmit the amplified adjusted up-converted signals200-1 and 200-2 to produce a MIMO RF transmission. As shown, the 2^(nd)amplified adjusted up-converted signals 200-2 is transmitted via anantenna having an orthogonal polarization to the other antenna, thein-air representation of the 2^(nd) RF signal component is rotated by90° with respect to the transmission of the other antenna such that thedirection of transmission of both antennas is similar.

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of thetransmit adjust module 180 and the power amplifier module 182 when theRF transceiver is in the first and second mode (e.g., RF beamforming andMIMO). As shown, the antennas 72 have orthogonal polarizations. As such,to provide the desired RF beamformed and MIMO transmission, one or bothof the signals 90A and 90B need to be adjusted.

In this example, the transmit adjust module 180 receives twoup-converted signals 90A and 90B that may of the same magnitude andphase, but are separated in space-time or frequency-time. The 1^(st)adjust module 181 adjusts the phase of the 1^(st) up-converted signal90A by −30° in accordance with the coordinate adjust factor 204. The2^(nd) adjust module 183 adjusts the phase of the 2^(nd) up-convertedsignal 90B by +60° in accordance with the coordinate adjust factor 204.The adjusted up-converted signals 200-1 and 200-2 are amplified by thepower amplifiers of the power amplifier module 182 and provided to theantennas 72.

The antennas 72 transmit the amplified adjusted up-converted signals200-1 and 200-2 to produce an RF beamformed and MIMO transmission. Asshown, the 2^(nd) amplified adjusted up-converted signals 200-2 istransmitted via an antenna having an orthogonal polarization to theother antenna, the in-air representation of the 2^(nd) RF signalcomponent is rotated by 90° with respect to the transmission of theother antenna such that the direction of transmission of both antennasis similar (e.g., −30° with respect to the top antenna).

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of thetransmit adjust module 180 and the power amplifier module 182 when theRF transceiver is in the first and third mode (e.g., RF beamforming andbaseband beamforming). As shown, the antennas 72 have orthogonalpolarizations. As such, to provide the desired RF beamformed andbaseband beamforming transmission, one or both of the signals 112A and112B need to be adjusted.

In this example, the transmit adjust module 180 receives twoup-converted signals 112A and 112B that may of the same magnitude butare of different phase (e.g., −30° and −60°, respectively). The 1^(st)adjust module 181 does not adjust the phase of the 1^(st) up-convertedsignal 112A in accordance with the coordinate adjust factor 204. The2^(nd) adjust module 183 adjusts the phase of the 2^(nd) up-convertedsignal 112B by +90° in accordance with the coordinate adjust factor 204.The adjusted up-converted signals 200-1 and 200-2 are amplified by thepower amplifiers of the power amplifier module 182 and provided to theantennas 72.

The antennas 72 transmit the amplified adjusted up-converted signals210-1 and 210-2 to produce an RF and baseband beamformed transmission.As shown, the 2^(nd) amplified adjusted up-converted signals 210-2 istransmitted via an antenna having an orthogonal polarization to theother antenna, the in-air representation of the 2^(nd) RF signalcomponent is rotated by 90° with respect to the transmission of theother antenna such that the direction of transmission of both antennasis similar to the desired baseband beamforming directions.

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding termand/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted toleranceranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to,but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit processvariations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermalnoise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a fewpercent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, theterm(s) “coupled to” and/or “coupling” and/or includes direct couplingbetween items and/or indirect coupling between items via an interveningitem (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, anelement, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for indirect coupling, theintervening item does not modify the information of a signal but mayadjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As mayfurther be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element iscoupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirectcoupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”. As mayeven further be used herein, the term “operable to” indicates that anitem includes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s),etc., to perform one or more its corresponding functions and may furtherinclude inferred coupling to one or more other items. As may stillfurther be used herein, the term “associated with”, includes directand/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item beingembedded within another item. As may be used herein, the term “comparesfavorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items,signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when thedesired relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude thansignal 2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude ofsignal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude ofsignal 2 is less than that of signal 1.

The present invention has also been described above with the aid ofmethod steps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

The present invention has been described above with the aid offunctional building blocks illustrating the performance of certainsignificant functions. The boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description.Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significantfunctions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocksmay also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certainsignificant functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram blockboundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and stillperform the certain significant functionality. Such alternatedefinitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocksand sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimedinvention. One of average skill in the art will also recognize that thefunctional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules andcomponents herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discretecomponents, application specific integrated circuits, processorsexecuting appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

1. A wireless device comprising: baseband processing circuitry;up-conversion circuitry; and a Radio Frequency (RF) front-end, wherein,in an RF beamforming transmit mode: the baseband processing circuitry isconfigured to convert outbound data into an outbound symbol stream; theup-conversion circuitry is configured to convert the outbound symbolstream into an up-converted signal; and the RF front-end is configuredto adjust the up-converted signal to produce multiple adjustedup-converted signals, to amplify the multiple adjusted up-convertedsignals to produce multiple outbound RF signals, and to transmit themultiple outbound RF signals as a beamformed RF signal; and wherein, ina multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmit mode: the basebandprocessing circuitry is configured to convert outbound data into aplurality of outbound symbol streams; the up-conversion circuitry isconfigured to convert the plurality of outbound symbol streams into aplurality of up-converted signals; the RF front-end configured toamplify the plurality of up-converted signals to produce a plurality ofoutbound RF signals and to transmit the plurality of outbound RF signalsas a MIMO RF signal.
 2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein when thewireless device is in the RF beamforming transmit mode the basebandprocessing circuitry is further configured to adjust the up-convertedsignal to produce the plurality of adjusted up-converted signals.
 3. Thewireless device of claim 1, wherein when the wireless device is in theMIMO transmit mode the RF front end is further configured to adjust theplurality of up-converted signals to produce the plurality of outboundRF signals.
 4. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein in the RFbeamforming transmit mode the RF front end is further configured to:adjust a phase angle of the up-converted signal based on a first phaseangle adjust value to produce a first adjusted up-converted signal;amplify the first adjusted up-converted signal to produce a firstoutbound RF signal; adjust the phase angle of the up-converted analogsignal based on a second phase angle adjust value to produce a secondadjusted up-converted signal; and amplify the second adjustedup-converted signal to produce a second outbound RF signal.
 5. Thewireless device of claim 1, wherein in the MIMO transmit mode the RFfront end is configured to: adjust a phase angle of a first one of theplurality of up-converted signals based on a first phase angle adjustvalue to produce a first outbound RF signal; and adjust a phase angle ofa second one of the plurality of up-converted signals based on a secondphase angle adjust value to produce a second outbound RF signal.
 6. Thewireless device of claim 5, further comprising: a first antenna having afirst polarization configured to receive the first outbound RF signal;and a second antenna having a second polarization that differs from thefirst polarization and configured to receive the second outbound RFsignal.
 7. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the up-conversioncircuitry and the RF front-end are formed on a common die of anintegrated circuit.
 8. The wireless device of claim 1, furthercomprising a case in which the baseband processing circuitry,up-conversion circuitry, and RF front-end are housed.
 9. The wirelessdevice of claim 1, further comprising host processing circuitry.
 10. Thewireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is configured toselect between the RF beamforming transmit mode and the MIMO transmitmode.
 11. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device isconfigured to select between the RF beamforming transmit mode and theMIMO transmit mode based upon a servicing communication infrastructure.12. A wireless device comprising: baseband processing circuitryconfigured to support both cellular and Wireless Local Area Network(WLAN) communications; up-conversion circuitry; and a Radio Frequency(RF) front-end, wherein, in an RF beamforming transmit mode: thebaseband processing circuitry is configured to convert outbound datainto an outbound symbol stream; the up-conversion circuitry isconfigured to convert the outbound symbol stream into an up-convertedsignal; and the RF front-end is configured to adjust the up-convertedsignal to produce multiple adjusted up-converted signals, to amplify themultiple adjusted up-converted signals to produce multiple outbound RFsignals, and to transmit the multiple outbound RF signals as abeamformed RF signal; and wherein, in a multiple input multiple output(MIMO) transmit mode: the baseband processing circuitry is configured toconvert outbound data into a plurality of outbound symbol streams; theup-conversion circuitry is configured to convert the plurality ofoutbound symbol streams into a plurality of up-converted signals; the RFfront-end configured to amplify the plurality of up-converted signals toproduce a plurality of outbound RF signals and to transmit the pluralityof outbound RF signals as a MIMO RF signal.
 13. The wireless device ofclaim 12, wherein the up-conversion circuitry and the RF front-end areformed on a common die of an integrated circuit.
 14. The wireless deviceof claim 12, further comprising a case in which the baseband processingcircuitry, up-conversion circuitry, and RF front-end are housed.
 15. Thewireless device of claim 12, further comprising host processingcircuitry.
 16. A method for operating a wireless device comprising: inan RF beamforming transmit mode: baseband processing circuitryconverting outbound data into an outbound symbol stream; up-conversioncircuitry converting the outbound symbol stream into an up-convertedsignal; and an RF front-end adjusting the up-converted signal to producemultiple adjusted up-converted signals, amplifying the multiple adjustedup-converted signals to produce multiple outbound RF signals, andtransmitting the multiple outbound RF signals as a beamformed RF signal;and in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmit mode: thebaseband processing circuitry converting outbound data into a pluralityof outbound symbol streams; the up-conversion circuitry converting theplurality of outbound symbol streams into a plurality of up-convertedsignals; the RF front-end amplifying the plurality of up-convertedsignals to produce a plurality of outbound RF signals and transmittingthe plurality of outbound RF signals as a MIMO RF signal.
 17. The methodof claim 16, further comprising, in the RF beamforming transmit mode,the baseband processing circuitry adjusting the up-converted signal toproduce the plurality of adjusted up-converted signals.
 18. The methodof claim 16, further comprising, in the MIMO transmit mode the RF frontend adjusting the plurality of up-converted signals to produce theplurality of outbound RF signals.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein inthe RF beamforming transmit mode, adjusting the up-converted signal toproduce multiple adjusted up-converted signals comprises: adjusting aphase angle of the up-converted signal based on a first phase angleadjust value to produce a first adjusted up-converted signal; amplifyingthe first adjusted up-converted signal to produce a first outbound RFsignal; adjusting the phase angle of the up-converted analog signalbased on a second phase angle adjust value to produce a second adjustedup-converted signal; and amplifying the second adjusted up-convertedsignal to produce a second outbound RF signal.
 20. The method of claim1, further comprising, in the MIMO transmit mode: adjusting a phaseangle of a first one of the plurality of up-converted signals based on afirst phase angle adjust value to produce a first outbound RF signal;and adjusting a phase angle of a second one of the plurality ofup-converted signals based on a second phase angle adjust value toproduce a second outbound RF signal.